Julian had always thought of the Blackwood estate as a museum, beautiful but it lacked warmth. His father, Rupert Blackwood, had been a titan, building companies with the same precision he'd used to dismantle competitors. Titans rarely had the time to be domestic or tuck their children in at night.
Victor had delegated this sacred duty and affection to a rotation of nannies who came by and went.
Camilla, their mother, elegant and socially lethal, was no softer. Her love was poured into hosting galas and guarding the Blackwood name like a fortress.
Julian and his sisters grew up learning that smiles were currencies to be spent in exchange for something valuable and vulnerability a weakness.
Rupert lost himself in his work, In return it retired him forcefully, as a thank you, to his contributions.
Since Rupert's stroke, Julian came once a week, Thursday evenings, after work. During his visit, he would sit by the massive four-poster bed where his father stared at the ceiling almost all day. His once-commanding presence and voice now reduced to soft grunts. It was evident, they weren't close.
They'd never been close. He only came out of duty.
Tonight, the house felt especially empty and silent. The serene air judged Julian as he entered the bedroom. Rupert's hand twitched on the blanket at the sound of the door. His eyes, still sharp behind their fog, found his son.
"Hey, Dad," Julian said quietly, taking the chair beside the bed. "Market's brutal. You'd love it." He gave a wry smile. "I closed the Kepler deal. Clean. Aggressive. Just the way you taught me."
Rupert's gaze blinked once, slow approval or mere reflex, Julian couldn't tell. Still he sat with him for ten more minutes, recounting harmless updates. The weather over L.A, a passing joke about a botched golf tournament, he even sneaked in Ashley occasionally. When Rupert fell asleep, Julian rose. He adjusted the blanket over him in a perfunctory gesture that felt strangely intimate.
In the hallway, Camilla was waiting, her expression stern.
"Leaving already? You weren't planning to say hello?" she asked. Her voice was smooth, but her eyes held steel.
"It's Thursday," he said. "I've been here, an hour."
"You were here, for forty-five minutes," she corrected.
"But that's not why I'm stopping you."
Julian stilled and sighed. "Go on."
Camilla folded her arms. "Your recent maneuvers are reckless. The board is whispering. Rupert would never have risked alienating old allies like this. I'm here, in his stead, to remind you.Your father's interests still matter, he is still here with us."
Julian's jaw tightened. "His interests or yours?"
"Don't be petulant." Her voice sharpened. "The Blackwood name is bigger than your ego. There are people, men your father trusted who are worried. You're burning bridges you'll need."
"I'm building new ones, you can call it extending " Julian said evenly.
"Stronger. Ones that don't rely on cocktail parties and handshakes in country clubs."
Camilla stepped closer. "Do you think Ashley? Sweet, earnest Ashley, will survive the fallout if you torch these alliances and burn the bridges? You're not the only one at risk. Our family's reputation, her family's business, everything becomes collateral damage."
He laughed appreciating the irony in her description of Ashley and her personality. The woman who fought for her father's company fearlessly and had taken on blackwood corp. without intimidation.
"She's way tougher than you think and why do you have to drag her into everything?" His tone softened a fraction. "She is far stronger than you ever give her credit for."
Camilla's lip curled faintly. "Strength isn't the point. If you wish her well, you should at least consider her before taking decisions that could blow back on the company and hers."
Something twisted in his chest, It was not guilt, exactly, but an old bruise pressed too hard. "You're asking me to play it safe, to be a placeholder until when? You do know Dad is retired and I am not my father. "
"You replaced our counsel with strangers. That reads as panic."
" I will protect my wife and family, whichever way I deem fit. I do not see how that is the company's business."
She narrowed her eyes dramatically.
"Julian Blackwood! If I didn't know any better, I would think you're actually in love."
Julian almost choked but maintained his composure, giving nothing away.
"I'm asking you," she said, her voice low and urgent, "To think about the empire your father built when he can't defend it himself, do not alienate your family."
For a heartbeat, neither moved. The mansion's cold light caught the sharp line of her jaw and the stern look on his face.
Then he exhaled slowly. "I'll think about my next steps," he said at last. "That's all I can promise."
Camilla's shoulders dropped minutely, but her gaze stayed sharp. "Do more than think, Julian. Choose wisely."
"There's something else I must discuss with you. The annual blackstone foundation gala." she announced.
Julian had totally forgotten about it. "What about it?" He asked impatiently.
"I want you to bring Ashley with you. Perfect occasion to announce her formally, don't you think?"
He nodded once like it didn't matter, like it was frivolous and vain, but in his heart of hearts he new looks was everything in this shallow vain world.
"Can I leave now?"
"Ofcourse." She said as she dramatically stepped aside, quietly adding in a low menacing tone.
"I will be inviting her as well, I trust you do not mind?"
His face tightened, she didn't have to say the name, he heard it anyway.
"Seat whomever you like." he said evenly "my wife sits with me."
He brushed past her and left. Camilla stood there quiet, the outcome, the opposite of what she'd intended.